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Ischaemic stroke in a patient on sunitinib

Maire Therese Lonergan1, Feargal Kellehar, Raymond McDermott

  • 1Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Stroke Unit and Department of Gerontology, Tallaght, Dublin, D24, Ireland.

BMJ Case Reports
|March 16, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Sunitinib therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma may pose a rare risk of stroke. This case report highlights a potential adverse event in patients receiving this vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is a significant health concern.
  • Sunitinib, an anti-vascular endothelial cell growth factor agent, is a standard treatment for mRCC.
  • Theoretical risks of thrombosis and bleeding have been associated with sunitinib therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the first documented case of stroke in a patient undergoing sunitinib therapy for mRCC.
  • To raise awareness of potential neurological adverse events associated with sunitinib.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of an older male patient with mRCC.
  • Patient was receiving sunitinib therapy.
  • Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and outcome of stroke were documented.

Main Results:

  • The patient experienced a stroke while on sunitinib treatment.
  • This represents the first reported instance of stroke in this clinical context.

Conclusions:

  • Sunitinib therapy, while effective for mRCC, may be associated with a rare risk of cerebrovascular events like stroke.
  • Further investigation into the thrombotic potential of sunitinib is warranted.
  • Clinicians should remain vigilant for neurological complications in mRCC patients treated with sunitinib.

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